New York election board sets machine standards!

[robinlynne]

I want to share this. a bit of good news.
New York election board sets machine standards

By MARC HUMBERT
AP Political Writer

April 27, 2006, 4:56 PM EDT

ALBANY, N.Y. -- After months of haggling, the state Board of
Elections has adopted guidelines for new voting machines that can be
used in New York and ordered machine makers to disclose information
about their political contributions and any lawsuits against them.

A statement released by the board on Thursday said "these new
standards go beyond Help America Vote Act (HAVA) requirements and
contain a number of features that make them model regulations for the
nation."

The standards require a voter verifiable paper trail.

The adoption of the standards mean machine manufacturers can begin
submitting their wares to the board for testing that could lead to
eventual sales in the lucrative New York market. State law requires
New York's old lever-action machines to be replaced in time for the
2007 election.

New York has been sued by the U.S. Justice Department for failing to
comply with HAVA provisions requiring states to have machines in
place for the 2006 elections that allow disabled voters to cast their
ballots independently. The department has also charged New York with
failing to meet requirements for a centralized voter registration
database.

New York is the only state thus far to be sued over noncompliance
with HAVA, legislation adopted in the wake of the disputed 2000
presidential election.

The lawsuit is ongoing and the state board has submitted a plan for
complying.

Under the new voting machine standards adopted by the state board,
machine testing shall be "conducted in a transparent process"
and "all testing and certification reports (with the exception of
some security functions) will be public records posted on the state
Board of Elections Web site."

The board is also requiring manufacturers "to submit detailed system
security analyses concerning their equipment" and "submit affidavits
with their applications for certification that make detailed
disclosures of all political contributions and all litigation
relating to any issue concerning the operation of their voting
system."

The board is also demanding the manufacturers disclose any interest
they have in independent testing laboratories.

Barbara Bartoletti of the New York League of Women Voters, a frequent
critic of the state board's operations, said the organization
supports the new voting machines standards.

"They incorporated most of our recommendations," she said. "We are
pleased, as much as you can be when you are dealing with the Board of
Elections."

[ClintonTyree]

1. Hey, we took our time........

looked at all the issues and if we took a little longer than others, tough shit. We'd rather make sure ALL the votes count than meet some arbitrary time-line. Decisions made in haste lead to the type of problems states are having all over the nation.

Our current voting machines work absolutely fine. There has NEVER been a problem with them but now we have to change everything because Republicans can't stand having fair elections. :grr:

[eppur_se_muova]

2. Nicely put.

:patriot:

[Kip Humphrey]

3. What about central vote tabulaton software & to what use will vvpt serve?

[BeFree]

4. Now that a majority of states....

... have detailed a VVPT, how about the feds do the same? Why doesn't the EAC demand clearing up the vague regulations in section 301 and require real audit trails and a VVPT?

For the big money spent ($3.8b) on the crappy, minimal trail machines, shouldn't we be getting a much better product?

What is holding back the EAC from getting the best systems possible? They know the systems now acceptable are substandard - according to most states - why don't they require the best?

Or is the EAC really all about messing up our election systems, and keeping those systems messed up and continuing to waste our money?

[Stevepol]

5. More great news! K&R!! And Welcome Roginlynne to DU. Thx for the post!